Connection fee - Vumatel

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Splinter

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Hi there. Vumatel are putting in fibre in my street. They look like they want to charge R1725 as a connection fee, and advise you to "book now so you will be prioritized".

The question I have, is I understand some ISP's will give you a "free connection" if you sign up with them. I also understood that fibre installers put a "box" on the outside of your property's walls regardless, and then your selected ISP comes along and connects from outside box to your home.

So why would one pay this R1725? Or does Vumatel not install this box unless you pay this amount?
 
Splinter said:
Hi there. Vumatel are putting in fibre in my street. They look like they want to charge R1725 as a connection fee, and advise you to "book now so you will be prioritized".

The question I have, is I understand some ISP's will give you a "free connection" if you sign up with them. I also understood that fibre installers put a "box" on the outside of your property's walls regardless, and then your selected ISP comes along and connects from outside box to your home.

So why would one pay this R1725? Or does Vumatel not install this box unless you pay this amount?
Click to expand...

Vuma install a box on the wall of every property. There is no fee for that.
When you order Fibre, Vuma will then install from the wall box to inside your home and add an ONT - this is R 1725.00
You then sign-up with an ISP who provide your Router. Some charge a connection fee/activation fee as well, other don't. Depends on the package you sign up for/provider you sign up with.

Some (don't think many), will cover this install fee, but you will be tied into a "contract" - if you cancel your subs within "X" months you pay the full install fee.
 
It is a good idea to "book now so you will be prioritized". Once Vuma has rolled out the fibre Vumas or their subcontractors will be buzzing with activity in the area doing the home installations. Think wisely where you want the CPE or ONT (inside home wall mounted box with pretty lights) installed in the home as this will be your main access point for wifi etc. (Unless you are going to run LAN cables everywhere) Once the Vuma installation is done you can at your leisure choose which ISP you want to sign up with. You cant access the internet from the CPE but you can access the Vumatel shop where all the ISP's will have their offers.
 
LOTR said:
Vuma install a box on the wall of every property. There is no fee for that.
When you order Fibre, Vuma will then install from the wall box to inside your home and add an ONT - this is R 1725.00
You then sign-up with an ISP who provide your Router. Some charge a connection fee/activation fee as well, other don't. Depends on the package you sign up for/provider you sign up with.

Some (don't think many), will cover this install fee, but you will be tied into a "contract" - if you cancel your subs within "X" months you pay the full install fee.
Click to expand...

EveDawg said:
It is a good idea to "book now so you will be prioritized". Once Vuma has rolled out the fibre Vumas or their subcontractors will be buzzing with activity in the area doing the home installations. Think wisely where you want the CPE or ONT (inside home wall mounted box with pretty lights) installed in the home as this will be your main access point for wifi etc. (Unless you are going to run LAN cables everywhere) Once the Vuma installation is done you can at your leisure choose which ISP you want to sign up with. You cant access the internet from the CPE but you can access the Vumatel shop where all the ISP's will have their offers.
Click to expand...

Thanks folks. Can you just elaborate on the ONT vs CPE?

So, I pay the R1725, ask them to install the "box" (ONT/CPE) inside my study (where PC is) and then go forth from there? Sounds good :)
 
Splinter said:
Thanks folks. Can you just elaborate on the ONT vs CPE?

So, I pay the R1725, ask them to install the "box" (ONT/CPE) inside my study (where PC is) and then go forth from there? Sounds good :)
Click to expand...

Not sure what ONT abbreviation means CPE stands for very original "Consumer Premises Equipment :)" It is basically the electronic box that converts the fibre optical signal to an electrical signal with LAN connection ports. ONT vs CPE has to do with Active Optical Fibre vs Passive Optical Fibre. Vumatel trenched is Active and from what i understand Vumalet Aerial is Passive.
Makes sense if you have it put where your PC is specially if you have good wifi coverage from your router there.
 
maumau said:
Which router did you go for Splinter?
Click to expand...

I haven't decided yet. Most probably the most expensive one, as my noob tendency is to think the more expensive the outer, the better it is :)
 
EveDawg said:
It is a good idea to "book now so you will be prioritized".
Click to expand...

Must say I was rather impressed with Vumatel this evening. Decided to pre-book with them on their website, but saw on their coverage map there is a slight hiccup with my actual house number vs what is on their map. Fired off an email to their sales email just after 4pm; querying what house number should I use; expecting either no reply or something in a few days.

An hour later I get a phone call from them, on my cell, telling me what number I should use, how long the expected time for completion is in my area (4 weeks or so; no sugar coating), and how the pre-ordering system works.

I know there is a difference between this and how good their fibre actually is, but it was a good impression.
 
Can somebody help me with this:

I have a vumatel installation completed. I'm waiting for the R1725 invoice for that (I requested it immediately but vumatel tells me I can expect that during the course of May). I've been using axxess for ADSL and am fairly happy with that so figured I'd go with one of their fibre packages. I have paid them the amount for May (according to their website as well as vumatel's) and so now have R826 credit sitting with them. Now, while trying to create the service through the axxess site, it's telling me that there is a connection fee of R999. What?! Please tell me this is included in the R1725 installation cost.

Reason I'm getting confused here is because on the signup page, there is the option for existing or new line. For new line (which I have?), there is nowhere to put in an object number. For existing, there is but then this R999 once-off connection fee comes up.
 
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EveDawg said:
Not sure what ONT abbreviation means CPE stands for very original "Consumer Premises Equipment :)" It is basically the electronic box that converts the fibre optical signal to an electrical signal with LAN connection ports. ONT vs CPE has to do with Active Optical Fibre vs Passive Optical Fibre. Vumatel trenched is Active and from what i understand Vumalet Aerial is Passive.
Makes sense if you have it put where your PC is specially if you have good wifi coverage from your router there.
Click to expand...

"Optical network terminal".
 
Flanders said:
Can somebody help me with this:

I have a vumatel installation completed. I'm waiting for the R1725 invoice for that (I requested it immediately but vumatel tells me I can expect that during the course of May). I've been using axxess for ADSL and am fairly happy with that so figured I'd go with one of their fibre packages. I have paid them the amount for May (according to their website as well as vumatel's) and so now have R826 credit sitting with them. Now, while trying to create the service through the axxess site, it's telling me that there is a connection fee of R999. What?! Please tell me this is included in the R1725 installation cost.

Reason I'm getting confused here is because on the signup page, there is the option for existing or new line. For new line (which I have?), there is nowhere to put in an object number. For existing, there is but then this R999 once-off connection fee comes up.
Click to expand...

The 999 is NOT included in the installation cost.

Go with cool ideas. They absorb that cost for you (but will recoup if you terminate within a certain period).
Sign up on the CI site, and then select the package via the Vumatel portal which you access from your new line before it's activated.
 
Sinbad said:
The 999 is NOT included in the installation cost.

Go with cool ideas. They absorb that cost for you (but will recoup if you terminate within a certain period).
Sign up on the CI site, and then select the package via the Vumatel portal which you access from your new line before it's activated.
Click to expand...

What on earth are they charging R999 for? To say, here, you may now use the data you purchased from us? Love how there's no mention of it until literally signing up. Not even a little '*' anywhere.
 
Flanders said:
What on earth are they charging R999 for? To say, here, you may now use the data you purchased from us? Love how there's no mention of it until literally signing up. Not even a little '*' anywhere.
Click to expand...

Vumatel charge the ISP R1000 each time they activate a line on their portal.
 
Flanders said:
And I take it this activation is a one-off, ie. regardless of switching isp?
Click to expand...

No. When you switch ISP, the new ISP pays the R1000 fee... Which they may or may not pass on to you.
 
Splinter said:
I haven't decided yet. Most probably the most expensive one, as my noob tendency is to think the more expensive the outer, the better it is :)
Click to expand...

Just get Ubiquiti. Ease of use and very powerful. For less than those bundled wifi and router options, you can get the poweredge router and a Unifi AP. You won't regret it.
 
Sinbad said:
No. When you switch ISP, the new ISP pays the R1000 fee... Which they may or may not pass on to you.
Click to expand...

Wow, so choosing a *** isp now comes with a potential R1000 school fee attached.
 
DMNknight said:
Just get Ubiquiti. Ease of use and very powerful. For less than those bundled wifi and router options, you can get the poweredge router and a Unifi AP. You won't regret it.
Click to expand...

Does the unifi controller manage Edgerouters?

If not, may I suggest a unifi security gateway instead? (I have one, it's brilliant)
 
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